Footprints

[Riku Naoya]

Riku tried with great determination not to look at Madoka, but to his dismay, his jade eyes could see her wolf ears twitching with anger out of the corner of his eyes. Riku ducked his head in, closed his eyes tightly, and pulled back his wolf ears as a reflex to Madoka’s harsh tone. She was mad, actually more like irritated in Riku perspective. He had never heard her voice in that manner before, she even threatened him! Riku raised his hand up to his throat, rubbing it to the thought of the gentle female shoving, forcing health treating herbs down his throat.

She wouldn’t…would she?

Riku’s jade eyes looked to Madoka’s face then turned again, away from her hazel eye. He lifted the corned of his upper lip up, creating a disgusted face at what he might place on his tongue.

His silver wolf ears remained flattened against his silver with black tresses. His eyes remained turned away. Most importantly, he remained stiff and stubborn. There was a pause of Madoka’s voice and argument giving Riku the chance to hope that she had given up. Unfortunately for Riku’s mask of stubbornness, Madoka changed her tactic; she went from threatening to seducing, and this killed Riku. Not literally of course, but it did cause a cave in to some extent.

Riku gasped shortly from the sudden touch. His heart must have skipped a beat. The cool touch to his bare skin caused an odd sensation. Tingles spread slowly through his skeleton. His skin crawled with warmth and a slight hint of desire. When Madoka’s voice gently flowed into his now unbendable and erect wolf ears, Riku’s heart began to not only pound excessively, but…but throb. Riku swallowed hard as she became more and more seducing. He fought desperately to keep his eyes from shutting from the utter warmth of her kiss and tickling eyelashes. His lips parted from the odd but wondrous sensations he was feeling. Riku slowly closed and relaxed his jade eyes. Knowing he was being enchanted by the seducing female, Riku opened them soon again.

His jade yes opened to see her innocence. The backdrop was not helping Riku’s situation at all either. The setting sun and the illuminating moon made their current resting place alluring and romantic. There it was that imagine again. Riku gazed softly at the Madoka who he thought was born as a goddess. Gosh, the scene he gawked at could have caused any man to have a bloody nose. Luckily, Riku did not allow any more blood to run other than from the wounds inflicted on his face.

The almost seduced wolf breathed easily from the ambiance initiated by Madoka. His bare chest heaved up and down steadily, along with slight movement at the stomach. Riku slowly blinked as he felt his loved one’s tail caress his waist without harming his injuries. Riku’s pools of jade with swirls of azure scrutinized at Madoka’s essence. The way the master of the night sky illuminated against her feminine outline and silky silver hair gave her a soothing, yet extremely enchanting aura and vibe. This feeling, this aura f hers gave Riku chills and tinglings, but for some reason he did not mind, in fact he wanted more, but he wouldn’t push his luck. He had to remember.

C’mon Riku, snap out of it! Remember…remember this is just a ploy for you to take that medication, that nasty bitter smelling and tasting medication. Come one, don’t let yourself be seduced!

Riku cursed under his breath. He could not allow himself to fall prey to Madoka’s trap, no matter her beautiful or innocent she was, however he couldn’t help but want more of this side of her. He had never seen her like this. Riku liked it, but there was the second thoughts lingering in the back of his mind. Riku missed the caring and perky, always a joy to be around Madoka. This is Riku’s basic list: the kind, perky, and always smiling Madoka he loved, the seducing side of the female made his heart throb—in other words he liked it—but the forceful female wolf demon, not so much; it kind of scared him. Nonetheless, Riku would always love and cherish all side of her, in fact that’s what made him realize. Thoughts raced throughout his head as his jade eyes gawked at the being Madoka. This was why he loved her. All of these unique traits, all of these sides and the ones he had not discovered yet made up the woman he loved. These are what made Madoka, Madoka. These are what made his heart throb for love. She was his better half for sure. A smile played across his lips with warmth from all of this thinking and contemplating going on in his head.

Still, seducing him was kind of a mean ploy to get what she wanted, and she was almost successful. The male wolf staggered at making his decision. Riku parted his lips to speak the word, “alright” but all feelings of saying that were lost suddenly when his heart stopped throbbing and when all the odd sensations that he enjoyed vanished. Riku gazed at Madoka for a second confused why this happened. His breathing changed back into normal and the waves of pain somewhat came back in an annoying way.

Riku looked up at Madoka with a playful smile on his face. He realized he almost gave in to her seduction, but luckily her pulling away from him and turning the slightest color of red broke the spell. He clenched the two herbs in his hand and smiled. Riku was no longer under the spell of the attracting Madoka. Now he could easily refuse her pleads of having him eat those bitter leaves. Though he did want to keep her happy and he always wanted to see a smile on her lips, he just couldn’t bare the thought of turning into an herbivore for a moment.

“You blew it, you almost had me Madoka.”

He brought his hand up to her face motioning how much she had left to go until he would have caved in to her trap of seduction.

“You were this close to having me eat those bitter herbs, this close.”

He spoke softly hoping she would not really shove those things down his throat and he prayed to all the gods and goddesses above for that to be just an empty threat. He winced a little bit at the thought and then continued to speak soothingly, yet with a hint of fear.

“Listen Madoka, I love you dearly, but I’m…”

Riku quickly turned his eyes away from hers and mumbled in a muffled voice.

“…not going to eat that bitter crap.”

He ducked his head in and grounded his silver wolf ears to his hair. While ducking his head, Riku slightly turned back up to Madoka with a smile on. The smile spoke itself, it was basically saying, “please don’t kill me,” in its own kind of way. Riku’s voice wafted through his grinning fangs, questioning if she was actually going to pull through with her threat that she posed in the beginning.

“I love you?”

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka looked up at Riku as parted his lips and spoke to her.

“So I almost had him, so that tactic works well. Then I have another plan same tactic, different approach.”

Her eye widen at Riku’s sudden withdrawal as he looked at her with almost scared eyes. Madoka scooted next to Riku and leaned gently against his back, her flesh against his as she wrapped her bare arms around him, once again avoiding any wounds.

“Riku, that was nothing but an empty threat, I couldn’t hurt you, you know that, but tell me, do you like it when I become manipulative and use my knowledge against you?”

Her voice was a soothing, seductive tone as she spoke with a small grin placed across her face. She placed her plan into action as she took one more small leaf off the plant she still held in between her own fingers and then placed the rest of the plant on the ground. She took the flexible leaf and rolled it into a tiny ball, no bigger than a raindrop. She placed the ball in her mouth and kept in her feeling towards the bitter taste. She had done this all behind Riku’s back so that he couldn’t see exactly what she was doing, but with her right hand she ran her fingers through his hair and down upon his shoulders and on to his chest once more.

“Ew, this thing is so small, yet it tastes as if I just at an entire orange peel, gross, but I’m not showing any emotion yet, and Riku’s probably falling for it...”

Madoka tossed the small leaf ball to the back of her mouth as she leaned into Riku. Her lips parted as she leaned into his ear, her voice still the seductive sultry voice she used before.

“Forget about the medicine Riku, how about something else?”

She gently reached over to Riku’s hand and wrapped her fingers around the leaves pulling them from his grasp and then tossing them into the wind. She wrapped her arms around Riku’s neck, and nuzzled the side of his face lightly, her ears bent back so that they were out of the way.

Madoka decided to end her ruse as she shifted over so that she was in front of Riku. It seemed to go in slow motion as she went from sitting in front of Riku to craning her neck so that her face was right in front of Riku’s. She placed her lips upon Riku’s as she kissed him passionately. Madoka’s eyes closed as she kissed Riku enjoying them moment and kissing him just enough for him to drop his guard. Within a moment’s notice, Madoka had slipped her tongue into Riku’s mouth and retreated back in to her mouth, leaving the leaf ball in Riku’s mouth. Madoka pulled away after she was finished and looked at Riku, it would take only a few seconds for the taste to overwhelm his senses, but the ball was so small that he would probably swallow it without even noticing. Madoka kept her sly smile in, she was use to the bitter taste of the plant and was use to the intolerable taste of it and could eat it without making a fuss or showing much of a disgusted face against it. Riku, however, was a different story. Madoka has use her cunning wolf traits to its maximum and if this didn’t work, she didn’t know what else she would do.

As she looked for Riku’s reaction, she wondered exactly how much he’d love her after this. She remembered his words after he thought about her shoving the herb down his throat. He meant it more most likely so that she wouldn’t carry out her threat, but she knew he meant it fully as well. She loved Riku too, and she was doing this so that he wouldn’t be in pain, but apparently if she kept distracting him as she did, it distracted him from his pain as well as him taking the herb.

[Riku Naoya]

Riku continued to duck his head in and ground his silver wolf ears to his hair, still questioning if she was actually going to pull through with her threat that she posed in the beginning. Riku tightly shut his eyes and let out a high pitched whimper when he heard movement behind him. He had a feeling she was going to pull through with the threat to shove them down his throat. He could sort of feel the throbbing of the throat just thinking about it. Riku’s ears suddenly perked up as he felt her gently wrap her arms around him; it was so warm and soothing, their flesh being together like that.

The male wolf demon released a long sigh of lull, drooping his ears as the air was freed from his mouth. Because Riku slightly leaned away as he sighed, relaxing every muscle and liberating the tension which was built up within his body, a small wave of pain went through him, but luckily it was not as bad as the first few. Pacified from Madoka’s words, Riku dropped all defenses around him.

As Madoka finished her sentence, Riku repeated her last few words in his head, contemplating whether she actually wanted him to answer that. If he did, he might say something wrong, and she would definitely have the major opportunity of using it against him later on. But if he didn’t, Madoka might reckon he had ignored her.

Thoughts crossed his head on which path to walk, figuratively speaking. While he was busy deciding, Riku had noticed nothing of the sneaky female wolf behind him and he knew not of what she was doing. He stuttered his words, just winging the answer.

“Umm…that all d-depends, what do you mean a-against?”

Riku tried staying calm, her voice was in that tone again, that seductive, soothing, and enchanting tone. His heart leaped once again, and he could feel his whole body getting hot from the setting Madoka was placing. Riku swallowed hard as she became once again seducing. He fought desperately to keep his eyes from shutting from the utter warmth of her touch. His lips parted from the wondrous sensations he was feeling for a second time just like before. Riku allowed her through the walls he created keeping the chance of her getting him to take the medication. He allowed the feelings to come and gave up on fighting them. His jade eyes slowly were concealed by his eyelids. The seduced wolf breathed easily from the ambiance initiated by Madoka.

Chills ran up his spine as she fiddled with his silver hair with black tresses. Tingles spread as her hand traced his shoulders and chest. He slowly blinked his jade eyes and took in her voice. When had she become so bold? It shocked him that she wanted something else. Riku was fully seduced now; there was no possible way he was crawling back to sanity. No judgments passed his mind that this was just another ploy. Riku was enchanted; nothing could snap him back to reality. Riku did not even realize she had taken the leaves from his hand, or that fact that Madoka had slowly shifted to the front of him, he could feel everything else though; the nuzzling, the warmth, her silky skin. He slowly parted his lips and spoke in a soft, almost whispering tone.

“But Madoka—“

Riku was gently cut off as Madoka’s lips contacted his. Pulses of warmth emitted throughout his body. This wasn’t just a peck like all the times before, Madoka, was kissing him with passion, not saying that she did not kiss him before without passion, but to Riku, this kiss felt different. Riku returned the kiss taking in everything. Every feeling, every pulse of warmth, and every second their lips were touching Riku made sure to absorb it. He slowly raised his hand to the side of Madoka’s face, rubbing her cheek tenderly.

The male wolf’s jade eyes went wide as he felt a slight increase of warmth and he could taste her breath. However, shocking enough as it was, Riku did not care anymore; these were the times he wished would never end. But soon that warmth died as so did the moment. His jade eyes shot open as bitterness overwhelmed his senses of taste and smell. Riku ripped away from Madoka, accidentally swallowing the helping herb. He shook his head releasing grunts of distaste. Riku swallowed trying to use his saliva to rinse the horrible taste, but unfortunately that herb was too powerful and overwhelming.

Riku clawed at his face not believing he had just dropped all of his defenses. He stuck out his tongue in abhorrence. Riku pulled it in and out of his mouth, scraping it against his teeth to scrape anything there off, but it was already down into his stomach.

“Ugh, dammit, that was so mean, using your beauty to blind me of my sanity and sense!”

His silver ears flattened tight against his head. Riku shook his head ferociously from the bitter overwhelming taste. It’s a wonder why he does not like medication of any kind. The taste began to settle, but to Riku, it was stained. He fell back on to the soft ground and heaved a sigh. Madoka was definitely cunning. Riku gazed up at the night sky licking the inside of his mouth, at times parting his lips and moistening them as well.

Fatigue draped his physic. His muscles relaxed and his eyes began to fall heavily. Today was a very tiring day. First Madoka’s accident and him saving her just to fall unconscious into the disease filled lake. Then, the snake that decided to pick a fight with him and to top it all off, the trickery within Madoka coming out just to get medication down into him. The pulses of pain dulled a bit, so he was a bit relieved, but he was not about to tell her that information. He was actually quite grateful that she did so, he really did not care. She was only trying to help the one she loves, and what do you know, she succeeded.

The moon was raying down upon them. Riku smiled at its majesty and the realm it conquered. Riku gawked contently, trying his best to disregard the bitterness Madoka had planted inside his mouth. Riku parted his tired lips to speak softly in a whispering tone.

“Oh Madoka, I’m tired. It’s…it’s a beautiful night out. The moon is watching over us…it’s like a guardian to me.”

Riku closed his eyes and then opened them again slowly as he fought the sleepiness consuming him. He unfolded his arms to spread horizontally from his body, out across the grass. He uncrossed his legs to lay out flat, not to mention to stretch a little bit; they were starting to bug him from a little cramping. Riku relaxed his head to fall to the right, looking away from the master of the night sky. He released a huff of air from his mouth, brushing the lush grass lightly. Not lifting his head in the slightest way, Riku looked down towards the female wolf, his love Madoka.

His jade eyes peered from the very corners of his eyes, gracing Madoka with a kind, soft gaze. His motioned with his lying hand for her to come lay with him, right by his side, just like the first day they met. Riku opened his mouth with some of the last energy flowing in his veins.

“I love you…and nothing will ever change that.”

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka grinned at Riku’s sudden distasteful look, knowing he swallowed the herb. Her silver ears perked up at hearing Riku and she gave a small giggle.

“You were not cunning enough then Riku. I got you twice with the same trick, but it’s all the same, I got you to swallow the herb, so you’ll feel a lot better.”

She watched as Riku laid down upon the forest floor. She felt her cheeks turn slightly warm as Riku sprawled out upon the leaves. The moon was glimmering through the tree tops and highlighting Riku’s body. She watched as it illuminated his where the muscles in his chest were chiseled and defined. The muscles upon his arms that were used mostly for holding her tightly were also lined with the glow of the moon. The way his hair fell and the silver strands that shone with the heavenly glow of the moon. She couldn’t avert her eyes to look away, her eyes only watched him as he looked at the moon.

Madoka’s hazel eye gazed upon him with contentment, but her trance soon ended when Riku motioned for her and spoke to her.

“I love you…and nothing will ever change that.”

Madoka’s heart was pounding in her chest at Riku’s gentle words. Madoka’s response wasn’t verbal but motion as she granted Riku’s wish. As she moved slowly to Riku, her body was heavy from the day’s battles. She slowly made her way over to Riku and laid down next to him. She placed her head gently against his chest, listening to his breathing and taking in how his chest moved with the rhythm of his breathing. She laid her arm across his chest and craned her neck to look at Riku’s face.

“I love you too, with all my heart.”

Madoka’s voice was in a gentle whisper, as if she wanted to leave nature in it’s nighttime glory. Once she spoke, Madoka was able to hear the little things that most humans did not get to hear.

A chorus of crickets chirped amongst the trees and underbrush of the forest. The water from the lake slowly moved along the edges and splashing slightly whenever a bird landed upon a tree nearby and knocked something off the bough and into the water. Some leaves gently settled upon the glassy surface of the water, just breaking the surface. Madoka’s ears twitched somewhat violently listening to an owl take off from a tree bough and taking to the nighttime sky.

A gentle breeze swept over the two wolves as it wove through the trees and cascaded onto the lake’s surface. Madoka felt silver strands of her hair be taken up by the breeze and settle across her face. She would move the strands back to their original place, but she was too tired to move. She didn’t want to disturb the peace her and Riku were having at that moment. She just wanted to enjoy this time with him, she closed her eyes slightly, but opened them. She didn’t want to sleep, she wanted to stay up.

She wanted to watch Riku sleep. She wanted to be there if he had a bad dream she wanted to be there for him. Madoka’s body didn’t want to do as her soul wished though as sleep over came her.

Madoka’s mind raced, as her mind placed her back in time. She could hear her desperate cries to her mother and then her screams once her demon possessed father attacked her. Her body cringed at the sight of the crimson liquid that belonged to her parents and then at her mind’s cruel tricks. She could once again feel the sting of the kicks that landed against her body from the villagers beating her for her innocent act. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t wake herself from her horrid flashbacks just yet.

From the outside, Madoka’s small whimpers were barely audible, but the tears that leaked from her eyes were tangible. With a sudden burst, Madoka sat up on the ground away from Riku’s body. She put her arms over her head, rocking trying to calm herself from the haunting flashback, but all she could do was sob, seeing her parents’ dead body and the fresh feeling of the villagers’ brutal beating.

[Riku Naoya]

Riku eyed the moon with content. How majestically it brightened the night sky astounded him. Many shadows were gracefully casted down as the moon’s rays beamed down with glory. His body was highlighted with a silverish light along with his body’s features: the muscles, chest, his hair, Riku’s relaxed wolf ears and silver tail, carving the outline of his lips and shadowing his jade eyes. The night he gazed upon was still young, but Riku was worn out and reached his limit. Fatigue swiped over him, racing through his body. Pain no longer bothered him, for the wounds he had received from the passed torturous day were finally healing.

Riku felt the warmth of Madoka’s touch as she lay gently down beside him. A slight shiver crawled up the male wolf’s spine as she laid her cool fleshed arm against his bare chest. As he breathed with ease for once, Riku felt Madoka’s head moving with his calm breathing. Hr could hear, if he listened intently, her own heartbeat and breaths of life.

While Madoka was situating herself in a position, to her liking, Riku was leisurely fading. His consciousness was going in and out, on and off. Riku’s silver, keen ears were no longer alert, so Madoka’s words were a little too soft for him to pick up. Her words to him were breaking up. While Madoka spoke with a gentle whisper, “I love you too, with all my heart,” Riku only grasped parts of her speech. All he could define was, “I love— and— all, heart.” So what he heard placed a small tired smile on his frail lips.

The nocturne of the night acted as a lullaby to the tired demon. The melody of the chirping crickets and the harmony of the clicking locusts worked together as one to create such a lovely, enchanting song. The piece of nighttime music caused Riku’s eyelids to feel heavy. Because of the current fading situation the male wolf was in, Riku faded in just in time to hear the sudden violent flapping of a bird taking off, rustling the leaves, shaking them into the placid lake in the background. This sudden connection back to reality and abrupt outburst of noise sent a slight energy jolt through his weary body.

His jade eyes slowly opened. Riku’s hypnotic eyes glowed as the moon above casted down a peaceful setting that he could enjoy. Madoka was sound asleep by his side out of reality. His eyes shifted down to her limp body. Riku smiled to see her resting peacefully by him with her arm gently placed on his chest. The facial features of Madoka put Riku in a bit of a trance. The moon highlighted her hair in the most brilliant way, shining a silver aura around her body. Her lips fell dead silent into a peaceful closing. Her eyebrows and the expression of her eyes gave her the alluring look of an angel.

Riku picked up his heavy head for a second to place a light kiss of her forehead illuminated by the master of the night sky. Not wanting to wake her, Riku moved slowly not to make much noise of the shifting ground under him. His lips contacted her silky skin with the lightest of touch. With that, Riku slowly let his head fall back on to the soft earth. He looked to the night sky and the cloud of stars blanketing the moon.

As the cool, refreshing breeze stroked the two figures’ outlines, Riku memorized this peaceful, undisturbed for once setting. His jade eyes with swirls of azure slowly shut just thinking, more like wishing this moment would last. Unfortunately, it did not.

Riku took an instant inhale to hear whimpering through his now erect wolf ears. They were whimpers of Madoka, which was about the only thing that could give him energy and wake him fully up. Riku shot a look at Madoka to see tears poisoning the face of beauty. Concern swallowed his jade eyes. The peaceful façade he once looked upon was now spoiled by tears.

A nightmare?

Riku reached his hand to touch her head to try and wake her so she did not have to suffer though it, for he definitely knew what it was like. Riku parted his lips but was shortly cut off by sudden movement of his companion.

“Mado—“

His eyes widened as he felt her warmth leave him. Her body shot up and away from him causing his stroking hand to accidentally hit her on the head, luckily there was not too much force there. Riku slowly sat up trying to say something, but all he could do for the moment was watch. He did not know what to do right now. His apprehensive eyes gaped at Madoka’s movements. Riku narrowed his eyes watching her go through this. Contemplating thoughts rushed though his head. She was scared…really scared, he could tell. The way she wrapped her arms around her head and the way she rocked back and forth told all too much. She definitely had a nightmare, perhaps a haunting past memory, but he didn’t know for sure. Whenever he has a nightmare, it is always a flashback of his tragic childhood and the disaster that had happened.

Silence filled the night air. Sobs from Madoka were the only thing playing in the night’s nocturne, not exactly a nice lullaby for Riku. Riku slowly scooted over to Madoka. He positioned himself behind her. Riku slowly parted his legs to put him and Madoka in a position where she is in between his legs and her back is against Riku’s bare chest. The male hesitantly swathed his arms around her, trying to cease her rocking. He wanted to show her he was here, she did not have to tell him what she saw, but all he wanted to do was comfort her.

Riku leaned forward against Madoka’s neck and nuzzled it gently. He whispered, his voice being muffled by her skin.

“Madoka, it’s ok…right? I’m here, please don’t cry.”

His silver wolf ears with black tresses of black pressed back against his sleek hair. Riku slipped his arms down on to her slim waist so he could get a better holding, and so she had more of a chance to realize he was there holding her closely.

As her tears continued to fall, some fell on to his head, reminding Riku of how her sleeping expression could change so suddenly from a face of peace, to a face filled with haunt and terror. Riku skimmed his face up to her face and placed his cheek against hers. His skin senses felt the salty tears hit and run into the area where Riku and Madoka’s flesh made contact. Riku closed his eyes and parted his lips speaking in a soothing voice. His lips slightly caressing her skin as he spoke in a whisper.

“Please don’t cry.”

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka’s chest heaved with her heavy sobs as she attempted to catch her breath as if she had held her breath while swimming underwater. She could feel Riku take her up in his arms, her body sensed it, but not yet her mind for her cries didn’t cease. Once she heard Riku’s calming voice though, her cries slowly began to decrease. Silent tears still rolled down her porcelain smooth skin as they leaked from her hazel eye and from under her bangs.

Her breath quickened as she heard the villagers’ yells towards her: “You lousy mutt!” “Flea-bitten half breed!” “Good for nothing wench!”. Madoka’s body trembled at the words echoing in her head, but no matter how terrible she felt, she couldn’t bring herself to hate the villagers. It was a misunderstanding and the villagers jumped to conclusions. It had taken a couple years for her mother and her to gain the villagers trust, but sadly the trust could easily be broken and with that incident it was.

Madoka felt her muscles ease and relax as she leaned against Riku’s chest. Madoka’s slender yet strong arms fell to her side at Riku’s presence. She felt Riku nuzzle against her flesh and her body reacted by sending a shiver up her spine. Madoka closed her eyelids and felt the male wolf move his head from her neck up against her cheek. She opened her eyes and averted her gaze to Riku. She rubbed her cheek against his and then turn her head as he spoke to her.

The salty drops that were running down her face soon evaporated off her flesh. She placed her lips to the Riku’s right temple, giving him a soft kiss. Without moving her lips from his temple, she spoke in a soft, sleepy tone.

“Thank you, Riku”

She parted her lips from his skin and put her forehead against the bottom of his cheek, near his jaw line. Her gaze went down to her waist, where Riku’s hand sat. She gave a small smile as she moved her head once again. This time she laid her head against Riku’s collarbone and shoulder. She nuzzled her face up against Riku’s neck, placing soft kisses every once and a while.

After a few moments, she backed away, but kept her head against the male wolf’s shoulder. Her silver bangs shifted as she lay, whereas they normally covered half of her face, some of the strands laid against the opposite side. Her gaze was dazed lightly, from a lack of sleep and her deep thought of her flashback dream. Her eyes were set upon the earthy ground that her and Riku sat on and the way some parts of it were lit up with a heavenly glow.

Madoka’s head shifted as she looked to Riku and the heavenly glow that outlined him.

“I’m sorry, I must have scared you. It was just a dream, it just scared me that was all...”

Madoka whispered softly to Riku, her eyes that were once aglow with happiness were now dimmed. Her hazel eye had a dimmed relief gaze, but it was mostly an emotionless gaze. Madoka’s body had reached its physical limit. She woke up early that morning and then after talking with Riku and getting to know him better, she ran off. Then after all the drama that had gone on, she had to trek through the thick forest for at least three miles with Riku on her back. She then had to bathe Riku as well as herself and then wrap his wounds.

Madoka looked back down at the ground, every feeling was sinking in now. Her muscles had strain all day and every one of them ached. Had she slept through the night, Madoka most likely wouldn’t feel the sting of it, but since she woke up with a start she felt it. She looked at her right hand and opened and closed her fist, but it had a tingling sensation.

The female wolf tried to situate herself in Riku’s arms, but her body had no motion. All Madoka could do was sit there in Riku’s arms and sleep, but her mind didn’t want her to sleep. Her mind didn’t want to recap her past once again and this was the only thing that kept her eyelids open.

[Riku Naoya]

The night sky silently watched over Riku and Madoka, hovering contently. Small sobs that were once heavy soon began to slowly cease into the night, allowing the lullaby of the crickets and locusts to come back into a gentle musical song. Though not all the peace was restored yet, the setting of the night always seemed to help it seem more peaceful than it actually was. The placid lake sleeping in the back reflected the crescent moon guarding them from above. The moon was raying down upon them with its majesty and the realm it conquered. The glow of it was indeed heavenly, but it was shining down upon a grim situation of two wolves becoming haunted by worry and the unforgettable past.

As Riku pressed his cheek lightly against hers, letting her salty tears soak into and dry on his flesh, he began to hear Madoka’s breathing pattern speed up. As soon as her breath sped up, trembling beneath his arms was felt. Riku parted his lips in concern as she trembled in his embrace. She wasn’t coming to yet, she’s completely terrified! Madoka’s gravely companion clenched his teeth and shut eyes pools of jade. Staggered breathing huffed between his fangs as Riku’s embrace became slightly tighter around her slender waist. Riku begged softly for her to calm down and sooth her heart. Unwontedly, his words got through.

His desperate grip on her loosened as Riku felt Madoka’s muscles ease. The sense of Madoka being there, both mind and body, warmed him. Riku released a silently small sigh of relief as he felt Madoka lean against him. Her body felt so limp as it inclined on his chest. A gentle breath of wind caressed the two wolves as Madoka placed a kiss to his temple, showing and speaking her gratitude. Riku became somewhat at ease when she started acting a little more like the Madoka he had fallen in love with. Sorrow filled his hypnotic eyes as the female rested her tired head against his collarbone, nuzzling the tender flesh on his neck. Every time she placed an alluring kiss, slight shivers shot up his spine, but he made sure to ignore it.

Moments of silence passed between the two silhouettes. Tickling sensations caressed Riku’s shoulder as his beloved moved. Jade eyes slowly looked down to the fatigued Madoka to see her silver strands fondle his skin as the gentle nighttime breeze brushed them.

Whispers were barely heard through Riku’s wolf ears, but he did make out her words. Riku looked down into her eyes. They were not her normal eyes; these pools had a sense of nothing within the gaze. Her eyes were dimmed and darkened with remembrance, a face he wore himself too many times before. The male narrowed his eyes in sadness and his arms around her waist tightened slowly as he attempted to get a better hold of her. He also spoke in a soft whisper, slowly drifting off to a slumber.

“I’m just glad you’re alright. Now…”

Riku placed a tender kiss on her temple as her mind and eyes drifted into another realm while staying awake. Placing his lips against her skin, he could necessitate the limpness of her physic and the wandering of her eyes. Riku observed how she might not want to sleep now because of the nightmare, but he thought maybe he could just easily coax her to sleep by holding her in his arms for a few moments, or the whole night if he had to.

“…get some sleep.”

Hoping his love would soon fall into a slumber, Riku’s muscles were deriving of strength quickly, the grip around her waist, his embrace, subsided as his limp limbs fell of the sides on the grassy soil. The wolf demon slowly let go of a sigh filled with fatigue and ill. Seeing that Madoka bowed and Riku relaxed his mind snapped awake due to his body feeling a strange warming all over. Riku shot his eyes open, glancing down to the limp body in his arms.

Her body is getting really warm…or…is that mine?

Worried and a little dizzy, Riku sorely raised a hand to his forehead, rubbing the tension he felt. Knowing he needed some cooling down, Riku kindheartedly pushed Madoka’s back very vaguely and glaringly swung out from behind her lank body. Gently handling her, Riku guided her down to the padded ground and silently walked over to the lake’s edge. Weary eyes struggled to stay open and leg cramps strained his muscles from working. When at the edge, Riku’s shaky legs from lack of sleep caved it, collapsing his body to the ground. Luckily, the male caught himself to land on his hands and knees. Coolness ran over his feeble fingers as they sank into the shifting sands. Riku leaned over to see his reflection in the crystal clear water. The gawking wolf gasped mutely to see the condition of his skin; it was pale, really pale. Disappointment and grief flooded the peering jade eyes of an unhealthy pale face. Riku huffed the air in and out of his lungs slowly.

Don’t tell me I’m getting a fever.

His eyes slowly moved to the crescent moon reflection on the surface of the water. Grim thoughts plagued his mind as he did not want to deal with anymore stress than he had endeavored already. The master of the night he had prayed upon so many nights did tend to send out hidden tests blanketed by the feeling of unknowing, but mostly it was just something, or someone to talk to.

Are you testing me? I’m too tired for this, please don’t.

Sweat rolled down his pastel cheekbone as he gazed at Madoka, pleading, beseeching she was asleep. His chest heaved with his exhausted breathing through his mouth. Riku swallow hard, feeling the dryness of his throat as the heat of the fever engulfed him. Cupping some lake water in his hands, Riku splashed the cool aqua on to his face, dampening some of his silver strands. Panting softly, hoping she petitioning she would not notice, spitting off drops of water from his lips as it rolled, Riku relaxed his head allowing his whole body to crumple horizontally along the lake’s edge. Slow thoughts of naïve falsely reassured Riku’s heart and mind.

It’s probably from lack of sleep; it will blow over by tomorrow morning. But for now…I should keep my distance from Madoka.

With that last thought considered, his jade eyes caved shut. The lullaby of the night filling the air as water mixed with salty sweat, dripping from the chapped lips of a wolf sleeping feverish six feet away from the one who has no idea what her loved one in enduring.

[Madoka Hamada]

“If only I could sleep Riku, but the night I need sleep the most, I cannot.”

She felt Riku’s body become limp and his hands slid away from her body as she sat against him. Her lips curved into a small smile, knowing that he could sleep peacefully, but she too felt the increase of warmth between the two of them. Her gaze was still upon the ground, but she saw Riku’s hand move upwards and out of her sight.

“Is he running a fever?”

She gave a small gasp as she felt the warmth disappear from her back as she felt her body be gently placed on to the earth. Madoka laid on her side, her left arm bent and out stretched a little and her fingers were curved to show she was still conscious. Her fingers twitched as she gently turned her head to the lake where she watched Riku stumble about until he finally collapsed at the water’s edge.

“Ri-Riku?”

Madoka’s whisper was soft and strain and barely audible, even to her own keen sense of sound. The female wolf’s body was still unable to move and all she could do was watch Riku’s back. She heard the splash of the lake water and then the splash of it hitting Riku’s flesh as he washed his face. Madoka inhaled sharply as Riku collapsed fully along the lakeside in the sand.

Madoka’s fingers on her outstretched hand formed a fist as she decided she was determined to get up. With what strength she had left, Madoka rolled herself onto her stomach and pushed herself up, her arms giving out on her a couple times, but she always caught herself. Now on her hands and knees, Madoka’s chest heaved rapidly to catch her breath. She looked over at Riku’s limp body and crawled over on all fours to him. When she finally reached him, she placed her feminine hand against his forehead.

“He has a fever, that’s definite.”

Madoka sat down so that she was sitting towards Riku, she crossed her legs and sighed. She retracted her hand and checked her own forehead.

“It’s just him. He must be exhausted from what went on, so the fever derived from that most likely.”

Madoka whispered as she talked to herself, she looked along the forest edge and gave a heavy sigh for the moonlight didn’t provide her what she wanted.

“As far as I can tell with the dimmed light, the herb for fevers isn’t here, too bad, that one’s actually sweet tasting.”

Madoka crawled over to the edge of the small area and looked around one of the giant oak trees that surrounded the lake and the two wolves. Gently, Madoka wrapped her fingers around a purple flower and smiled.

“Lavender, it may not help with his fever directly, but as he sleeps, this will help him to sleep better. Therefore, allowing his body to fight off the fever.”

Madoka brought the flower to her own nose and inhaled its sweet scent. Getting back on all fours, she crawled over to Riku and placed the flower in front of his face, so that he could pick up the scent. Then she crawled over to a tree and leaned against its massive trunk. Madoka brushed her bangs aside, revealing her blue eye that was plagued by blindness. She ran her tender fingers over the scar that went down across her eye.

She leaned her head against the trunk of the tree and looked up to the sky. The moon resonated even more brightly as it discarded its cloak of midnight blue clouds. Madoka’s mind wandered back to her past, but not the unpleasant memories. The memories of after years of wandering around after her parents’ death, she settled down a little in a small village in one of the Uncharted Regions. Madoka aged slowly and she had been wandering around by herself for quite sometime, but a young couple took her in, since she still had the body of a young girl.

“That was, five years ago...”

She snickered lightly, remembering the year she spent with them. They were somewhat surprised however that over that year, Madoka looked to be about six when she came to them, but when she left them she looked to be about sixteen instead. Her eyes widen at a instant idea, the couple told her that she could return whenever she pleased.

“I can take Riku there, the people are kind there and will welcome him. We can rest comfortably and just maybe....”

She casted a heartfelt gaze towards Riku’s sleeping body

“he can get over his anger towards humans, wouldn’t that be nice?”

Madoka situated herself against the tree as she began to doze off into a heavy slumber, a small smile played across her face as her fatigue soon wasted away as well as the aches and pains. She soon found herself curled up against the tree, sleeping soundly.

[Riku Naoya]

What’s that scent? It smells so good, so tenderly soothing…so…familiar.

Riku opened his eyes to a memory, clouded by a border of white faze. The setting was peaceful. His jade eyes stared ahead of him to see a familiar place, a place of his past. The male wolf stood there in front of his past watching it contently as he began to remember. It was one of his peaceful past memories.

A tall weeping cherry blossom tree hovered its branches over two silhouettes enjoying the breeze offered. Petals of the plant fell from their home and drifted in the air currents. Flowers of lavender surrounded the tree, growing their roots deeply into the soil shared by the weeping tree. The sun of morning shone from above, it was about mid afternoon, early evening. Lush green grass covered the hill the two beings sat upon, and a spring down below the small hill trickled gently, letting them know of its presence.

Riku, the older version of the one he gazed upon, the one Madoka fell in love with, took a few steps closer to the two wolf demons. He knew both of them. One was a female, a beautiful woman sitting meekly upon the cushion of the meadow. Her azure eyes glanced a kind look at the boy lying peacefully in her warm lap. The woman’s porcelain silver hair shifted gently from the wind. Every facial feature, every detail, Riku remembered perfectly. Her lips, her feminine hands, her smooth jet black wolf ears and her bushy, black pillow soft wolf tail, he saw it all in the past. That beautiful woman sitting like a goddess with her child in her lap on the rolling hill was his beloved mother. The peering Riku pulled back a bit, folding his ears down against his hair. His jade eyes shut tightly blocking the tears from falling.

This overwhelming memory did not stop there. Riku gazed back up at his past. His eyes could see them, but his mother or his younger self could not see him. It was like there was an invisible barrier, like a one way window. A small smile brushed across his lips as the younger him played like the child he used to be.

The young boy sat slowly up from his mother’s lap, awakening from his nap. His eyes gazed at the waving flowers as they were stroked by the wind. His small hands picked up his limp body up from the ground and he knelt in front of his loved mother. Young Riku giggled at his mother as she giggled back at him. This was indeed a peaceful moment that was nearly forgotten and overrun by the incident. The small time of laughter was quickly silenced as a white butterfly landed straight on Riku’s twitching nose, thinking he was a flower to be pollinated.

His mother brought a hand to her lips and tilted her head, closing her alluring eyes from a small chuckle released at her son’s expression. His jade eyes with pool of azure went cross attempting to look at the insect. Young Riku wrinkled his nose a bit from the tickling the butterfly was doing and then laughed. Slowly bringing his hands up, young Riku quickly brought his childish hands together trying to capture the landed butterfly. Unfortunately, his endeavor failed, only to grab his own nose. His small ears drooped from disappointment but then quickly perked back up to hear his mother laughing at the pureness of her son. He looked up with a big smile on and wagged his short wolf tail.

Happy laughter echoed on the rolling hills. Infantile Riku chased after the butterfly that mistook his nose for a flower while his mother laughed at the untainted adolescent, her untainted adolescent. Riku’s small hands reached out in front of him chasing the butterfly with curiosity and determination. His stubby legs ran him somewhat down the hill towards the unpolluted stream. His mother’s watchful eyes peered gracefully as her son danced around the stream attempting to catch the insect.

The present Riku also watched his younger self play with the child traits he still had. A relaxed smile played across his saddened lips. His silver wolf ears with black tresses were no longer folded back from pain, but from enjoyment. His eyes narrowed, relaxing at the movie as it played by. Riku turned back to his angelic looking mother only to have his heart jump. His aged jade eyes widened to see his deceased mother’s eyes peering straight into his. Riku gasped sharply at the message she spoke to him. Her voice was ghostly, haunting, not like the he remembered.

“Remember what they did to you…my Riku.”

Riku’s body began to tremble. Her voice shot shivers up his spine. His lips quivered as the sight he gazed at became distorted. Blood poured out from his mother’s pores as she slowly spoke her next words. The weeping cherry tree behind her began to burn down by flames of red. The blood of his mother rolled down the hill, colliding into Riku’s feet and poisoning the stream young Riku was playing at. In the background of his mother’s voice, howls of his pack echoed sharply.

“Remember what the humans did to me…to your pack…to you.”

Riku read her lips clearly as they became chapped and ran over with blood pouring from her mouth. Panic over took Riku, staggered breathing started, his eyesight trembled along with everything else. The beauty of his mother vanished as she gave an evil toothy grin, baring blood stained teeth. Her eyes were bloodshot as well, her azure eyes were wide open and her bloodied lips parted again and again repeating over and over again to her grown son.

“Remember it Riku…remember……REMEMBER!”

Within the depths of this nightmare, Riku collapsed onto his knees, grabbing his head and throwing it back to the reddened sky. His silver hair flew back with the momentum of his head. His eyes thrust shut as a sharp painful scream was released.

“Nooooo!”

In reality, out side of Riku’s dream that shifted into a nightmare, his jade eyes shot open. A shallow breath of air was gasped for as Riku’s chest heaved up and down. Riku’s hand grasped down into the cool sand at the thought of his nightmare. The male wolf slowly calmed down with the help of the lake’s water gently stroking him of its dampness, cooling his flesh and soaking into the side of his pants. He slowly narrowed his eyes a bit to focus in on a flower lying in front of his figure. It was purple and had a gorgeous scent to it. It was the familiar scent he had a whiff of before falling into the dream, lavender. Riku leisurely out reached his hand and placed it on top of the flower’s stem. He closed his fingers around it, grabbing some sand along with it, and brought the flower to his face up close.

With the hand he was not using, the right, he propped himself up onto this elbow. By rubbing the fingers of his left hand together, the stem of the flower twisted, rotating the whole flower in his hand. Slowly raising all the way to a sitting position, Riku curled his right hand around his knees and gazed at the flower. A flashback of the lavender flowers surrounding the weeping cherry blossom crossed his eyes, but then disappeared. Because of the flash, Riku gently tossed the flower into the placid lake he sat by. He watched as the ripples were cast across the surface and then noticed the moon’s reflection fading from the brightening sky.

It was still dark out, but there was still a glimpse of sunlight peeking over the horizon. Riku thought to be maybe about five o’clock in the morning. His eyes shifted shut for a second and then turned his head away from the lake back towards where he last remembered seeing Madoka. His eyes lightened from the serene vista of Madoka with her eyes in a slumber.

She must have placed the lavender plant.

As expected, Riku’s fever dissipated, and all his wounds were gone. The fatigue and soreness that once roamed all over his body had also vanished. The wolf gradually brought himself to his feet, while at the same time seized his shirt Madoka stripped of him. Luckily, she also took it upon herself to wash it so when Riku had brought it up to his nose, he smelled nothing but the cleanliness of lake water. He folded the shirt over his arm and began to unravel the bandages securely enveloped around his wounds. It fell quietly to the ground into a small disorganized pile. He then carefully wound the cloth back up into a cylindrical roll, placing it on the nearby boulder. With that taken care of, he slid his shirt over his head, on to his body, covering his cool flesh.

His gaze coasted back to the sound asleep Madoka. A smile once again played across his lips to the beautiful sight. He was glad she had had the opportunity to get some rest. Silently, Riku walked over to her body and bent his knees, so he could be in better reach of her curled up body. Maneuvering quietly, Riku reached out his hand and pushed some bangs out of her placid face. He stroked her face gently smiling contently at her. An urge came into Riku’s heart wanting to move the tresses so he could see what she hid underneath the shield. But against what he wanted, Riku refused. It was Madoka choice whether to show him or not, and he was about to violate her trust.

Riku leaned his right hand against the truck of the tree she was sleeping by, using it for support, and cautiously leaned down. He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and then pushed up. Straightening his knees, Riku fully stood up now and released the tree he utilized for support. As he stood up he never lifted his gaze off of Madoka and the pleasantry she had. Her eyes were fully relaxed, and her breathing was steady.

Riku blinked slowly, taking in the cool early morning air. He turned around, away from the dozing female wolf and silently moved along the swampy ground. Not wanting to wake his adored, he walked back over to the lake’s edge and took a seat on the rock that Madoka and he shared at the beginning of their romantic meeting. The rough surface of the boulder was nice and fresh. He leaned back, supporting all weight on his hands, and closed his alluring jade eyes taking in a tranquil inhale. Refreshing air was drawn in through his nose, chilling his system, and easing his heart. He allowed his lean legs to dangle from the rock’s ledge, piercing the lake’s surface a bit with his feet. The feeling was cold, but utterly soothing.

The dawn fog was seen rising of the surface of the body of water he unwound in front of. The scene was like a painting, tinted by the innards of someone’s heart and soul. Hints of pink reflected off the glimmering water as the morning dawn finally began to stretch. Clouds reflected the coloring, spreading elegantly across the sky. His silver hair brushed along the subtle air current that was present. Strands stylishly waved before his eyes, and facial skin textures.

Riku sat upon the rock patiently in a deep trance of thoughts waiting for the woman he loved to wake up from her sleep. He did not really care if he had to wait for hours. No matter what, Riku promised himself and Madoka mentally that he would be there when she would awake. His eyes opened to the escalating fog in a trance of wonder and deep inner thoughts crossed his mind.

Hopefully, we will be getting out of this wretched area today.

Riku turned his head slightly to gape at Madoka. A smile crossed his lips. The image of her sleeping soundly sent warm chills through his body. He then turned back to the painted scenery of the lake’s layout and all of its loveliness.

But for now, I’ll just let nature reveal to me the virtuous beauty it has to offer.

Riku’s eyes watched with jovial expressions as the early dawn stretch across the wide unexplored sky. The little clouds that skated across the, to some extent, dark sky with pink and purple highlights contributed greatly to the enchanting scene Riku assembled under. This was indeed a great start for the perfect day.

[Madoka Hamada]

“Madoka? What are you doing you silly girl?”

A young, but matured woman asked as she peeked out of the log cabin doorway and walked out towards the young female wolf demon who was sitting on the ground, leaning against the house. She ran her fingers through her deep brown hair, rousing her bangs from their places on her forehead so that they would set lighter on her skin. She kneeled down next to Madoka, her green eyes curious with Madoka’s giggles.

“Look Kaiya, a caterpillar!”

Madoka held her index finger on her left hand up to Kaiya’s face. The fuzzy brown and black caterpillar, that crawled from Madoka’s tiny finger down across the back of her hand and began its quest down Madoka’s arm. Kaiya smiled at Madoka’s innocence as she glowed with happiness with the fuzzy insect.

“It’s very cute, Madoka, now let it go, so that it go and become a butterfly.”

Madoka nodded as she placed her other index finger in front of the caterpillar’s path. The insect stopped, puzzled at this sudden obstacle, but climbed on to the young girl’s finger. Madoka then transported the insect to the ground, onto the thick border of grass that surrounded her second home. Once it crawled off her finger, she felt Kaiya run her fingers through Madoka’s silky silver hair, avoiding her wide silver ears. Madoka leaned closer to Kaiya enjoying the sensation of Kaiya’s fingers running over her scalp. She bent her head back so that she was looking at Kaiya upside down and could see Kaiya giggle.

“You’re a goof...”

Madoka giggled, her silver wolf tail thumped lightly on the dirt road that led through the village and spread out to each of the homes. The village bustled with its normal amount of activities as merchants tried to sell their goods and women complimented on the freshness of the produce while they filled their wicker baskets full of food for tonight’s dinner. Madoka turned her head to the painted horizon as the pinks and purples began to blend with the darkening blue. Sunset was coming soon, meaning the men would be returning from their work. And as if a bell had rung, men began to fill out through the fields and those worked on homes dropped their tools heading to their young brides.

A young man, about in his late twenties, walked up to the two girls. His light brown hair was ruffled from him running his fingers through it, trying to lift it to ease some of the daytime heat upon his head. His blue eyes looked to his young wife as she got up and embraced him and kissed him gently. Madoka watched the two, giggling slightly at the two’s public show of affection, but Madoka wouldn’t want it anyway from her ‘foster’ parents. After his young bride showed how much she missed him, he looked over at Madoka.

“What did you do today Madoka?”

He asked as Madoka put her hands up in front of her so that he could pull her up on to her small feet. He then held her tiny hand as they went into the log cabin for dinner, a stew that Kaiya had been working on all day.

“Oh, I had so much fun today Taku! First I ate breakfast then I went out and I played ball with all the other kids and then we went into the woods for a little for berry picking and I figured out that some of the berries aren’t ripe...”

“Is that so?”

Taku laughed as they sat down at the wooden table they sat at for dinner. Madoka situated herself on a chair beside Taku as he turned so that they could finish their conversation.

“How did you figure that out?”

“I ate one and then I made a yucky face.”

Madoka said in a bubbly tone which made Taku give a deep chuckle, normally children wouldn’t be so thrilled with eating an unripe berry since they were extremely bitter and with Madoka’s heightened senses, it would be double as distasteful. Taku sighed as he patted Madoka on the head. It had been a couple months since they found her outside of the village, wandering about. It didn’t take long for him and his wife Kaiya to take her in and care as if she was their own. It didn’t take long for the village to accept her either, she was young and had the most joyful attitude towards others that no one could have rejected her.

He sighed as he gazed upon his bride across the table, who looked at him and smiled then gave a small nod towards his bowl of stew. Taku began sipping at his stew with the use of his spoon and sighed. He and Kaiya hoped for a child of their own, but Madoka was just fine as he watched his ‘daughter’ sip at her stew, straight out of the bowl. He looked up as Kaiya gently reminded Madoka that there was a use for the spoon next to her. Madoka giggled as she grabbed the spoon and began eating once again.

Madoka’s ears twitched as she filtered in a conversation, but it wasn’t the one from her dreams, but the small birds’ twitters and the dew sliding off the leaves onto the ground. Madoka gently opened up her eyelids as her vision came into focus of the bright blue sky and the cotton clouds that danced across it. The sun was over the horizon and the pastel colors of the sunrise had already subsided. Madoka reached up, brushing past her bangs as she sat up in the curve of the tree roots that she fell asleep in.

She looked over to where Riku once slept, keyword: once, as she looked over to the rock near the lake where Riku sat. A smile curved her lips as she thought back to her dreams, for once she actually had sweet dreams. She pushed herself off the ground and stretched, some of her joints popped from the awkward position in which she slept. She ran her fingers through her fine hair and walked up to the rock from behind Riku. She leaned on the rock and leaned into his ear, whispering in a still sleepy tone.

“Morning...”

Madoka smiled as she looked at Riku, placing her hand against his forehead, no fever, well that was a good sign. As was the sign of his flawless body, no wounds whatsoever. She sighed, looking at her leg, no scratch or scar, nothing and all fatigue had melted away. She felt much better after finally getting sleep. She looked back to Riku, her silver ears erect on her head waiting for his response.

[Riku Naoya]

Riku sat there on the cool surface of the rock patiently as he waited for Madoka to open her eyes to the new morning sunlight. Hours passed by quickly as Riku allowed continuous thoughts to rampage through his calm mind. The reflection of the sun leisurely moved across the mirror of the lake water, and the fog completely dissipated into nothingness. The beautiful painting in the sky of morning, elaborated by the wonders of nature, had vanished. It was as if time was elapsed as Riku sat there on the boulder. The sun rose quickly as the morning dew was still dripped on the grass, but was beginning to dry.

As nature’s regular course passed by his jade eyes, Riku began to estimate around what time it was; about nine o’clock perhaps, giving plenty of time to get out of this terrible place. A smile played across his chapped lips as the thought of leaving to a better place of sanctuary crossed his plagued mind.

All was quiet as the birds chirped their conversations and as the tree tops waved majestically in the wind. Leaves fell like slow rain down into the lake, skidding across the lake and disturbing its placidness. Silence of nature was lost to Riku’s wolf ears as they focused in on a new sound; the sound of bones adjusting to their user’s movements. Riku’s eyes relaxed and so did his muscles. His ears somewhat drooped down to the reduction and his chin dropped lower.

She’s awake.

Riku continued to sit there for the time being, just waiting for her to come closer to him. But it turned out to be quiet funny, because Madoka moved much quicker than he had anticipated. His calm heart skipped a beat as he heard Madoka’s soothing voice ringing in his ear. His whole body shook a bit from a short scare. Riku shot a look to his side to meet her gaze. He quickly regained himself and his tranquility. A slow warm smile was soon painted on his lips after he salvaged himself. He watched her essence contently as she moved her hand up to his forehead. Madoka’s slender hand and finger gently caressed his brow. Riku’s eyes followed her hand’s movements, but they quickly moved back down to her face. The male tilted his head a bit and stretched his neck very little. He slowly parted his to speak his first words of the day.

“Good morning. Sleep well?”

He sat there for a moment waiting for her to reply, but he quickly wanted to get things off his mind. The male wolf turned away from the woman and he gawked at the lake. The water was crystal clear, not murky at all like regular lake water. This lagoon was pure beauty, the water sparkled brightly from the sun’s rays and the bottom of the like could be seen from any point of view. Even the smallest pebbles could be seen, absolutely beautiful and pure, no doubts about that.

Riku’s jade eyes with swirls of azure stared contently at the glistening lake. His silver wolf ears with black tresses relaxed, drooping a bit, but not much. His tail was still and his breathing was soaked in with ease. The male wolf demon released a sigh and slackened his body. His leaned down, propping his lower arms on his knees. His wrists dangled his lean hands in between his long separated legs, just close enough together that the tips of the fingers lightly touched one another. Silver hair shifted with the gentle breeze, some skidding across his keen eyesight. In a soft tone, as if not wanting to disturb nature, Riku spoke, moving his lips with as little energy as possible.

“You know…I was thinking about getting out of this forsaken locality. All it does is causing us more stress…and right now, I don’t want it…for either of us.”

Riku, the tired male wolf, from lack of sleep, turned to the female who had cared for him ever since they met. He smiled slightly, as in a begging manner. As his head turned the light breeze took Riku’s strands of hair and danced with them. He looked down for a split second and grabbed the wrap he had placed next to him until Madoka woke up to reclaim it. Riku’s jade eyes then wandered back up to Madoka’s patiently waiting eyes.

“But it’s all up to you. We can go, or we can stay…either way I’ll follow. Here.”

Riku reached out his hand to Madoka. The cloth she had used to bind his bleedings was lying on the palm of his hand. Riku had no place to put it, and he really saw no more need for it, but with his luck he would need it once again eventually. Riku placed the roll down upon the cool rock and left his hand right on top of it. He turned back to the glossy lake and stared. It looked as if he was admiring the lake and its glory, but he really was not looking at it. Riku’s eyes gazed deeply into his soul, and the pains of his past. Flickers of his recent dream swiped past his eyes, putting him into a trance to be broken. He parted his lips not knowing what he was saying, or if he was saying anything at all. The male wolf whispered softly, in a barely audible voice, to any listening ears.

“No where to go…I’m just running, like a sniveling little pup. I’m drowning in my own sea of lost…my own sea of blood and regret.”

Riku inhaled a short sigh realizing everything he meant to think was spoken. Hopefully Madoka did not hear his dreary rambling, but if she did he will lie to her, just so she does not worry or get curious. That was the last thing Riku needed Madoka to do. He did not need to let her in on his past; she would surely hate him for the blood trails he left behind, not to mention for the ones in the past that still follow him.

Riku’s wolf ears folded down, he was definitely ready to leave this place. It makes him dwell too much, leaving him vulnerable to anything. Perhaps even seduction to tell the truth, or to an enemy that may appear. Even if Madoka did try her seducing female way, Riku would stay strong. This was a secret he intended to keep, a secret he planned to keep locked up even if it killed him.

I would deserve that anyway.

Riku shifted his jade eyes shut and heaved a sigh. The gently breeze soothed his heart and made him more realistic, more clear headed. He leaned his head back waiting for Madoka’s response. He likes to soak in the sunlight, but even more to bask in the moonlight, under a starry sky.

But…death is the easy way out.

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka’s keen hearing picked up Riku’s gentle voice as he greeted her. She had a placid expression upon her face as she gave him a slow, drowsy nod to answer his question of her slumber. Her hazel orb gazed upon Riku as he turned away from her for a few moments. She looked down at his face, and followed his gaze to the tranquil lake.

It’s clear glassy surface allowed the two to gaze down to the bottom of the lake. Madoka was absorbed by the tranquility, not having much of it, only in her sleep. She ran her slender fingers over her silver bangs, shifting them slightly against her face. The movement showed very little of the scar beneath them, but it was covered when the strands fell back into place. She turned her attention back to Riku as he looked back at her, speaking in a soft tone.

She couldn’t agree more with Riku about leaving the dismal swamps that had not welcomed them. The female wolf gazed down as Riku reached out the bandaging she used on his wounds. She watched as he placed it on the rock and his hand rested on the roll. She kneeled down on the rock so that she was close to his back, careful not to disturb his train of thought. She reached over for the roll underneath his masculine hand, but Riku’s soft whispers caught her attention. She made out few words, even with her excelled hearing, but as she repeated these words inside her head, she began to make sense of them and understand Riku’s thought. Madoka parted her lips to speak, but bit her tongue not wanting to ask. This was Riku’s business, he would tell her when he was ready, just like she would tell him what her bangs hid once she was ready.

Madoka was gracious that the rock was large as she sat behind Riku. She gently crossed her long, slender legs so that she sat Indian style behind him. She gazed at the back of his head and his silver hair with black tresses and how it fell around him. She then gazed up on his ears as they leaned down. She reached along her hair, freeing it from the bondage of the ribbon and the hair tie that kept it in its ponytail. As the gentle breeze came along, it shifted Riku’s hair and Madoka’s so that it sprawled out over her shoulders and down along her back. She watched as Riku craned his neck and bent his head backwards to look back, but he wouldn’t see Madoka. She was shorter than Riku by a couple inches and since she was sitting down, she would be out of his sight. She leaned in and caressed his neck against her cheek. She then rested her chin on his shoulder as she spoke softly.

“Getting out of this swamp area sounds wonderful to me..”

She then retracted and began to glow with innocence, like a child who lied when they did something wrong. The only problem was where she would like to go, Riku said he would follow, but would he follow her to her old village.

“But will you follow me if I go to my old village?”

She asked softly, she gazed at Riku, afraid that he would use the same harsh tone he used when she mentioned humans yesterday. Without second thought, she placed her hands together as if to pray and bowed her head, as she pleaded.

“Please Riku, I know they’re humans, but they’re really nice, honest. They would welcome you with open arms, none of them are bad I promise. Please, it would me the world if you came with...”

She picked her head up from its bowed position and eyed Riku for any sign of him becoming angry. She placed her hands in the space between her crossed legs. She wasn’t lying, Kaiya and Taku would welcome him and be glad that she opened up to someone other than the two of them. She gazed at Riku, her eyes overflowed with a pleading look as she awaited Riku’s answer.

[Riku Naoya]

The male wolf demon leaned into Madoka’s caress and nuzzled her cheek as she nuzzled him. He placed a soft kiss on her silky skin of her temple. As his lips placed gently against her temple, a smile played across his orifice. Riku was relieved that his beloved agreed with him. There was definitely a mutual feeling of this macabre place. True there was beauty in the place they stayed, but that was the only area. Outside of the lake’s edge were horrors and unwelcoming beings, creatures, and plants, even water sources. The stench was becoming a bother for Riku as well. His muzzle was beginning to memorize the smell, and that was something Riku did not want. He is already cursed with having to smell human blood every day, and that stinks enough as is. The male wolf does not need another scent to follow him.

The demon parted his lips to speak saying that their decision was settled, but he was soon cut off. Madoka peculiar movements caught his attention. She retracted from him. Riku lifted his head and turned to the woman he loved to see an innocent mask on. It was one that a young child would wear very often. Riku completely turned around to face her. He carefully crossed his legs, making sure not to hit her by accident and leaned in to her with a curious face on. His hand were placed firmly on his bent knees as he leaned in, looking directly into her alluring eyes.

Riku’s ears caught her words and his heart lifted to a new extent. Happiness overwhelmed him. Jumping to good conclusions, Riku began to let thoughts cloud his mind. The word “village” definitely grabbed his utmost attention, especially when Riku knew it was Madoka’s village. At first he wasn’t even thinking of the actual details, he was assuming.

A wolf demon village, other beings like me. Sounds nice.

He suddenly broke his thoughts clouded by excitement. A smile quickly appeared on his face, one of those smiles where he had not worn for a while. It was innocent and full of purity. Riku began talking quickly out of enthuse accidentally talking while she was.

“Madoka, I don’t get it. I would love to go to your village and meet the wolf demons of your childhood! Why are you being so shy—?”

Riku’s eyes jolted open in shock and his mouth was silenced once he finally focused in on one word and Madoka’s pleading position. His head shot back away from the female wolf and his ears laid flat, tightly against his silver hair with black tresses.

”Humans?”

Sudden flashbacks of his nightmarish dream faded before his jade eyes. His mother’s words echoed through his head over and over again. His head lowered in thought. His eyes were spacious, and his mouth was slightly parted. His silver bangs draped over his eyes, shielding them from Madoka’s gaze. Riku was in a small trance. The wolf demon lipped his mother’s words as he said them within his mind.

Don’t forget what they did to you…remember.

He looked back up to Madoka, his eyes relaxed. He spoke very softly to her. His lips moved slowly, and so did his hands. Riku gently took Madoka’s hands into his and he pulled them over so Madoka’s hands were closer to his body. His jade eyes looked directly into her hazel eye and the one that he would never see. The male wolf then slowly closed his eyes, tightening them as he spoke to his love. His gentle grip tightened a bit, but not by too much.

“That’s what she said. But…”

His grip lightened and his eyes opened to peer into her pools. A warm smile crossed his silenced lips and his eyes glowed with warmth and trust. His head lifted up to Madoka’s level and tilted slightly.

“…I promised you that I will try and see humans the way you do.”

The lips of Riku paused for a moment to think about what he was saying, but then continued to finish up. His lips quivered a bit, and his voice stuttered as well, but Riku followed through with his sentence.

“I’ll— I’ll follow.”

The fighting wolf slowly stood up with Madoka’s hands still in his. His arms began to tremble. The trembling within his body was contagious. It began to spread throughout his whole body in fear of what may happen. As he parted his lips once again to speak the shaking subtly subsided. His silver wolf ears flattened again as thoughts of the worst case scenario penetrated his mind.

But Madoka…what if they do not welcome me? What if…what if something bad happens?”

What if this event triggers memories of my past and…opens the gate to my inner beast?”

Riku’s eyes fell into sadness and thought. Worries clouded his clear thoughts keeping them away from his reach for the time being. Riku experience his inner wolf beast once before when he was young. It was released during the massacre of his clan. That beast that lurks within him still desires to go on the prowl again. The male demon clenched his teeth tightly as a thought crossed his mind emphasizing the cursed smell of human blood.

The true demon is what made my hands stained of blood. That damn demon that makes me a demon is what bestowed this forsaken curse on me!

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka eyed Riku’s legs as he crossed them, mimicking her style as he sat in front of her. The tone of excitement in Riku’s voice made Madoka’s heart skipped.

“He’s not being cautious, I didn’t think he want to go to a human village...”

But when Riku said ‘wolf demons of your childhood’, the pounding in her chest slowed. She gazed upon Riku, her eyes heartfelt as she sadly shook her head. Riku caught his words when he gazed upon her and her pleading look. Madoka knew that he realized she wasn’t talking about a wolf demon village, but a human village. She had never known her mother’s pack. She had been raised around humans her entire life and only knew about wolf demons from what her mother would tell to her.

Madoka felt a chill crawl up her spine at Riku’s body language. She watched as the male wolf’s large furry ears flattened against his head. His silver bangs covered his alluring azure eyes and Madoka’s face inched away slightly. She couldn’t tell if he was in deep thought or angered by her question. She averted her eyes for a slight moment until Riku’s eyes were visible once more. He gently took her hands in his and gazed upon her. The female wolf could feel her cheeks begin to shift to a more pink color as he looked at her. She gazed upon his lips as they moved to his gentle words. Her ears picking up his voice and making sense of the words he spoke. She could feel her hands be constricted a little more, but not to the point of hurting her, but more or less a reassuring grasp. Her eyes widen slightly as she saw his lips curve into a small smile.

The hazel orb of the female wolf widen and filled with pure joy at Riku’s acceptance to follow her back to her home village. Suddenly she felt the vibaration of her hands shaking and gazed down.

“Is it mine? No it’s Riku’s..”

She looked at his hands as they trembled and like ripples of the lake, spread throughout his body, causing his whole body to tremble. She looked back to Riku’s face as he spoke his frightful words. She leaned in to him, placing her forehead to his allowing the strands of their bangs to entwine with each other. Madoka spoke with an alluring voice, calm and quiet.

“You will be welcome, trust me. Greet them with a clear mind, do not let your past cloud your judgement of these people. They judge you by your character, not race. I spent an entire year with these people and I left. I’m really indebted to them and they would be delighted to meet you.”

She reached her arms up and wrapped them around Riku’s neck. She held him in a tight embrace for a few moments as her cheek rested against his. She craned her neck slightly so that when she spoke once more, she was whispering right into his large wolf ears.

“I’m very grateful Riku. You trust me enough so that I can lead you towards something that angers you. I do not know your past, but maybe these people can change your judgement. You can’t generalize people, they are not all bad.”

She leaned away from his ears and released her grip on him. Slidding off the rock, Madoka stretched once more and gazed to the sky. The clouds allowed some comfort from the blazing sun, but that wasn’t what she was looking at. The position in the sky told them that it was almost noon. As she began to think deeply, her wolf ears twitched to show her concentration. She softly began to mutter to herself for a couple moments, before she turned back to Riku.

“They live in The Shepherd’s Fields, if we leave now and run, we can make it there by late afternoon, but that’s only if we leave now.”

She tied her hair back in it’s ponytail, using the ribbon she normally had placed behind her bangs. She looked to Riku and smiled softly.

“You coming?”

[Riku Naoya]

Jade eyes with swirls of azure in the irises drifted shut as the female wolf demon placed her forehead against his. Silver bangs from both beings danced together, entangling themselves from the gentle breeze which subtly existed. Words of reassurance and astuteness from Madoka’s mouth flowed gracefully into Riku’s thoughts. Her words were softly spoken and had hints of wisdom behind them. However, the male being who calmly listened was disagreeing with his love in the ways of his judgment. She said not to let his past cloud his verdict, but how? How could Riku accomplish that when his clan was wiped out, all by humans, both young and elderly?

Doubts infiltrated his plagued mind. Riku began losing himself, mentally, not physically. The demon had not faced humans for years and now to suddenly go to a village full of their existence, this was a big step for Riku. Riku felt his arms become limp, dropping to his sides, outlining his figure. Soon after, warmth surrounded his body as his mind finally grasped what was happening. Madoka was holding him. Riku’s wolf ears twitched lightly to Madoka’s whispers.

The wolf lost his gripping on reality when her words went silent. Thoughts of the past placed the terrorized demon into a trance. It wouldn’t last long, but it would feel like eternity to the demonic being. In reality, Riku’s body remained standing silently in front of the being Madoka. But within Riku’s mind, it was a whole other story.

Riku’s spirit drifted into nothing but thought and remembrance. Separating from the body, the wolf mentally saw everything happening. His spirit drifted for a few moments, missing any movement, missing any voices except for his in the mind. Psychologically, Riku fell into the black abyss. He could feel himself drifting in the pool of tragedy. To the male demon, this short time of contemplating felt like hours. Flashes of the assassination appeared before his closed eyes. Every detail could be seen. Every audio sound could be heard. Every scent could be smelled.

All my life I despised humans. Ever since the massacre of my clan, my hate for them never dwindled into the abyss of the forgotten. Madoka, she doesn’t know…not yet, it’s not time.

Humans are humans. They are all connected through one bloodline. That will never change.

Absence of mind ended when Riku looked at the first promise he made. He gave an oath, this survivor made a promise on his pack’s grave. Jade eyes opened slowly as his promise was echoed through his mind as if he was standing in a cave or valley of some kind. Light came into his vision as the eyelids slid open. Sights directly looked at the pure soft smile of the woman he fell deeply in love with. Madoka’s words came within his keen hearing. Head falling back towards the sky a bit, a smile graced leisurely across his orifice. Riku knew what he promised, and he wouldn’t want anything more but to do that, but…if he were to pull through…he would be hurting the only one he ever loved this strongly.

Inhaling gradually, Riku prayed to his clan, especially his beloved mother. The wind stroked his cheek and shifted his silver hair with black tresses as he prayed. Sending a message silently to the heavens, directed towards his dead clan, Riku folded his wolf ears back as he spoke to his kin in his head and heart.

Sorry, but I’ll hold back on my promise for now.

Clenching fists appeared, drawing a bit of blood from the midst of Riku’s hands. Crimson blood seeped under that claws and some trickled through the crevasses of his individual fingers.

But I swear, I’ll kill them…

Loosening his fists, Riku’s gaze drifted down to the sight of purity and delight. Madoka’s silver strands reflected the sun’s rays with utter elegance. A soft, warm smile painted across his mouth as he took in her essence. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Not bringing down his façade, Riku stepped down from the boulder and strode to Madoka’s side. Words left his mouth in a soothing and peaceful tone. However, behind these words, the wolf demon swore as the thought of another tragedy crossed his mental imagery.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

I’ll kill them…if they dare to cause me any pain.

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[Madoka Hamada]

The female wolf smiled at her partner when he slid off the boulder and walked to her side. Once Riku spoke words of agreement to her offer, she used the strong muscles in her legs to jump on to a nearby tree bough. If they chose to travel amongst the ground, the swamps would slow them down. Traveling amongst the trees would be quicker, but it would have to be precise movement. Madoka didn’t want another mishap of yesterday.

Her feet pounded against the lithe boughs of the trees as she jumped from one to the next. Twigs from the branches scrapped against her flesh as she brushed against the sharp sticks. Few made Madoka wince however, her mind was set on going home. Kaiya and Taku had been awaiting her return for five years.

The soft scent of the sweet grass was thick in the air that summer day. The silver haired wolf demon looked upon her caretaker with a clear look of sadness. Kaiya’s deep brown hair blew in the wind as she moved it out of her sight, revealing her brilliant emerald eyes. Kaiya gently stepped towards Madoka and hugged the young demon gently.

“Please return, I’ll never forgive you if you don’t come back, neither will Taku.”

Madoka’s silver ears flattened against her head as Kaiya choked back her tears. Madoka, herself, was holding back tears that begged to flee from her eyes. Madoka’s bottom lip quivered as she swallowed hard against her throat to keep tears back.

“I-I promise...”

Madoka managed to get out, but her words were shaky. Kaiya backed away, her warm embrace faded from Madoka’s body. Kaiya sent Madoka off with a smile, but as Madoka turned, both let their tears begin to run.

Such a thought brought tears back to Madoka’s eyes as she ran through the trees. Especially since that brought back Taku’s memory. Taku had to work early that day, and wouldn’t be around when she left. Madoka remembered being woken early in the morning by Taku. Woken from a deep slumber, Madoka caught few of his words, but she could remember him placing a soft fatherly kiss upon her head as he left her room.

Quickly she wiped away the escaping droplets as she jumped. She had hoped Riku didn’t see, she didn’t want to explain the reason behind her waterworks. Though it was nothing to be ashamed of, Madoka was simply homesick.

A large oak tree bough was under Madoka’s feet when she stopped. The female wolf’s chest heaved with every intake and exhale of breath through her mouth. She had been going nonstop for a good while. Looking to the skies, she scanned for the position of the sun. It was in the three o’clock position in the sky.

Taking a longer break, Madoka leaned her back against the tree’s trunk and then slid down the rough bark. The bark chipped off the trunk as Madoka slid down the tree’s main body. She ran her fingers over her forehead, wiping the settling perspiration from her temple.

“Half way there, if I remember correctly...”

Madoka muttered to herself. She closed her eyes for a quick rest which lasted only about two minutes. Opening her eyes after her short rest, she rose to her feet once more. Looking to Riku, she smiled and spoke with a hint of excitement to her voice.

“We’re almost there, just over half way.”

The female canine demon started up on her trek once more, jumping from bough to bough. This time though, her thoughts were on Riku. Why was he so against humans in the first place? Thoughts began to roll as Madoka thought back on previous conversations. By the way Riku acted when she first brought up going to her village he said ‘wolf demons of your past’. Could this mean he was actually of a pack, unlike her? She then had to figure out how the humans worked themselves in there, but right now she had too much food for thought.

“Maybe in sometime he’ll tell me, just like...”

Her fingers brushed past the silver strands of her bangs that hid her blind eye and scar. Shaking her head of the thoughts she concentrated on getting to her village before dusk. The female’s powerful, yet slender legs allowed her to increase speed even more as she jumped from bough to bough.

[Riku Naoya]

A swift breeze stroked Riku’s cheek as his companion leapt into a nearby tree. The watchful male gazed, reading her movements as she jumped from limb to limb. Thoughts raced through the complicated wolf mind of Riku Naoya as his legs began to move across the swampy ground. Springing the muscles in his legs, Riku was able to keep up with Madoka, but only he ran under her. Jade eyes examined the pathways he took, weaving through the trees and jumping obstacles while the keen wolf ears listened for Madoka’s footprints above him.

What’s wrong with me? My heart won’t stop racing and I can’t gat a good breathing pattern, it’s too shallow. Why am I so nervous…They’re just humans…humans.

Riku’s knees suddenly locked and gave out under him. Snapping him to attention, a small gasp escaped from between his lips as Riku’s hands and knees collapsed on to the swampy floor. Squeezing his eyes shut and grunting in frustration, Riku’s claws dug into the earth, clasping it, and restricting its oxygen. Wolf ears with black tresses bent back tightly along with the furry tail tucking between the strained legs.

Come on Riku, get yourself together. You have to do this…for Madoka. Don’t be such a whimpering pup!

The male wolf’s ears perked up suddenly when the pounding of Madoka’s feet became distant. Riku shot a look into the trees to see nothing but brush, tree limbs, and leaves.

Crap!

Using the strong muscles in his legs, Riku jumped into the bough of the tree that was hovering above his being. Sticking his nose in the air he searched for the familiar scent of Madoka. The search soon stop though, when the scent wafted into his sense of smell. Copying the technique from the female, Riku used his lean, yet muscular legs once again to jump from tree to tree. The scent of Madoka got stronger as he neared her. His feet thumped lightly against the thin branches as he jumped from one to the next. To go faster, the agile wolf demon jumped before the next step barely touched its landing. Jade eyes honed in on a stopped silhouette, it was Madoka. His eyes watched her contently as she slipped down the trunk of the tree Riku had just landed on, missing her by a few seconds.

Chest heaving, Riku looked down at her essence to see her innocent smile. His ears flattened to hear her excitement. He had no smile to offer her, not even a fake one. Riku was too shaken up. His breathing wavered as he gripped his hands together to cease them from shaking. Concern filled his hypnotizing eyes as he turned from Madoka. Breaths still causing his chest to heave up and down, Riku looked through the density of the swamp. The stench was lifting and the thickness decreased with each length they ran. Time also did not wait. Past three o’clock, that was Riku’s estimation.

Half way there…I can’t do this, It’s too much. However…

Riku followed right after Madoka once she started again for her village. His thoughts continued to cross his mind as he watched the woman move swiftly in front of him.

…it might be the same for her if I ever take her to my family.

Jade eyes gazed at the silver hair that breezed behind the feminine body as she raced, jumping from bough to bough. Switching his vision every once in a while to check where he was stepping, Riku let his thoughts run free. She continued to run, but why was she in such a rush? Could they not take their time or something? Madoka lived with humans obviously. But why? Riku most likely had a confused look on his face as he leapt from tree to tree. There’s so much he wants to know, but if he asks, Madoka will most likely want return answers to her own questions.

What secrets do we hide from one another?

This was the main question that echoed in his mind. Riku’s confused face switched to a determined mask. Eventually, he was going to ask that. Maybe soon…

Maybe later…when I’m ready……to cry.

Distracting his mind too much, Riku missed his footing. Scraping the bark from the bough, Riku’s foot skimmed the side of the branch causing his body to tumble to the cushion of the swamp ground. Catching his weight on his hands, the male rolled to his back gracefully and stopped undulating when landing firmly on his hands and knees just like before. Yet, this time, Riku did not get back on his feet. He was not hurt, far from it, he was just scared. Scared…of crying. It would happen soon. The plagued wolf demon could sense it.

I’m going to have to tell her soon. B-But I…

His alluring jade eyes clenched shut as did the fangs of a suffering wolf. The trembling came back as Riku sat there on his hands and knees. His ears were pushed back from the swelling pain within his heart.

…I can’t. I don’t want to cry…

Huddling his body as it shook; Riku dropped to his elbows and ducked his head in between his slender arms. Silky silver hair toppled down around Riku’s shoulders, the tips of strands barely connecting to the ground. Fists formed as recalls of his past haunted him.

…not again.

Determination and pain both flowed through Riku’s veins as he tried to coax himself to continue on. Unfortunately, something was holding him back, his legs, his hands, his body, all went numb for a moment. Soft whispers escaped his still lips.

“Get up. Come on, move. Don’t let Madoka see me like this. Come on…get up. Get up. Why can’t I move?”

A flash of Madoka appeared before the closed jade eyes of the fallen wolf.

Ever since I met her I changed. I’m becoming vulnerable…weaker.

Time seemed to slow as a realizing thought called out to him.

No, I was always this weak. That’s why…that’s why……that’s why I am the only survivor.

[Madoka Hamada]

OOC: i don't know if you got my message that I was posting in Shepherd's Fields or not. My post is there though.